An Honest Review of Apple Intelligence... So Far

Summary

Apple's ambitious Apple Intelligence features, first introduced at WWDC 2024, are starting to roll out, but many fall short of expectations. From writing tools that assist in text rephrasing to visual intelligence that can identify objects, most features show promise but lack refinement. While some, like the background object removal in the Photos app, stand out, others, like notification summaries and generative emojis, feel unnecessary. Despite the hype, Apple Intelligence still has a long way to go, with potential for improvement, particularly in Siri’s integration of ChatGPT and in-app actions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apple Intelligence was first introduced at WWDC 2024 with promises of major improvements, but many features are still incomplete or underwhelming.
• 📝 Writing tools on Apple devices offer basic generative AI to adjust tone, make text concise, or correct grammar, but they lack depth and are not revolutionary for professional writers.
• 🚫 Notification summaries, which condense multiple notifications into one, rarely offer useful results and often lead to oversimplification.
• 🤖 Generative emoji allows users to create custom emojis based on text prompts, but this is a novelty feature with limited appeal.
• 🎨 The Image Playground lets users generate cartoon-style images from text descriptions, but it feels like another gimmick rather than a practical tool.
• 📬 Priority notifications aim to surface important messages during Focus Mode, but its effectiveness depends on how well it integrates with apps like Mail.
• 📸 Apple’s Photos app now includes an AI tool for background object removal, which outperforms Google’s Magic Eraser, especially with complex backgrounds.
• 🔍 Visual intelligence on iPhone 16 devices offers camera-based object identification and reverse image search, but it doesn’t break new ground in terms of functionality.
• 💬 Siri now integrates with ChatGPT to answer complex questions, though its performance is still basic, with much of Siri's full potential yet to be realized.
• ⏳ Despite many features being launched, Apple has yet to fully deliver on their promises of advanced Siri capabilities, which are expected to arrive in future updates.
• 🤔 Overall, Apple’s AI features are a step forward but feel underwhelming, with many tools being niche or only useful in limited scenarios rather than transformative innovations.

Q & A

What is the main promise of Apple Intelligence, and how does it relate to their product lineup?

Apple Intelligence was announced as a major feature to enhance the entire Apple product lineup with AI-driven functionalities. However, despite the initial excitement and long buildup, many of these features are still in development and not fully available yet, with some only expected to roll out by March 2025.

Why do the writing tools in Apple Intelligence feel underwhelming?

The writing tools use generative AI to adjust text, making it more professional or friendly, but they feel repetitive and not particularly useful for most users. Despite being available offline, the tools don't seem to offer enough value for someone who doesn't regularly need to rewrite text.

How does the notification summary feature perform, and why did the reviewer disable it?

The notification summary feature condenses multiple notifications into one or two lines. However, it often doesn't provide a meaningful summary, making it mostly unhelpful for the reviewer. The feature has also generated comedic results in some cases, leading to it being turned off.

What is the 'Gen Moji' feature, and how does it work?

Gen Moji is an AI tool that generates custom emojis based on text descriptions. Users can input a description of an emoji they want, and the AI creates it within seconds. While fun, it’s mostly seen as a niche feature and not something the reviewer finds particularly valuable.

What is the 'Image Playground' app, and what are its limitations?

The Image Playground allows users to generate cartoon-style images based on text descriptions. It offers some fun creative possibilities, but it lacks photo-realism and has limitations when it comes to generating specific images or handling sensitive content.

How does the 'priority notifications' feature aim to improve user experience?

Priority notifications aim to reduce the overwhelming flood of alerts by surfacing important messages, especially in focus modes. It also identifies high-priority emails and attempts to make notifications more manageable, though it may be more useful for people who use the default mail app.

What is Apple's approach to AI in the Photos app, and how does it compare to Google’s tools?

Apple's AI feature in the Photos app focuses on background object removal, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser. The reviewer finds Apple's tool better at automatically detecting objects to remove and creating more accurate outlines, making it one of the more useful AI features.

What is the issue with the recording summaries feature, and why does the reviewer find it confusing?

The recording summaries feature allows users to transcribe phone calls and provide summaries, but it’s confusing because it’s not fully integrated into the default Voice Memos app. The user must go through the Notes app to record and summarize, making it an unnecessarily complicated process.

What is 'Visual Intelligence' in Apple Intelligence, and how does it work?

Visual Intelligence, available only on iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, allows users to ask questions or search for information about objects or subjects through the camera. It’s similar to previous features seen on other devices, like Samsung’s Bixby, but it integrates with ChatGPT for better responses.

How does the ChatGPT integration enhance Siri’s functionality?

ChatGPT integration with Siri allows users to ask more complex questions or request tasks outside Siri’s typical scope, such as planning a trip or finding a recipe. Siri prompts users to use ChatGPT when needed, offering more detailed and accurate responses, though the integration is still in early stages.